Rev. All Sharpton's Hand in the Cookie Jar

WASHINGTON — The FBI (search), as part of an ongoing criminal investigation into the Rev. Al Sharpton (search), secretly videotaped him pocketing campaign donations from two shady fund-raisers in a New York City hotel room and then asking for more, it was reported yesterday.

One of the donors was later recorded on a wiretap saying Sharpton may not have reported to the Federal Election Commission (search) tens of thousands of dollars in campaign cash, as is required by the law, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

The FBI launched the probe into Sharpton's fund-raising for his failed 2004 presidential run after his name surfaced on wiretaps in an unrelated Philadelphia City Hall corruption case, the Inquirer said.

The Post confirmed the FBI investigation of Sharpton. The two dubious donors whom Sharpton met with in the hotel on May 9, 2003 — Democratic fund-raisers La-Van Hawkins and the late Ronald White — suggested that nearly $90,000 was missing from the official campaign report Sharpton filed with the FEC.

Hawkins is currently on trial in Philadelphia on corruption charges unrelated to the Sharpton case; White also was going to be indicted, but he died before charges could be brought.

An FBI wiretap picked up Hawkins telling White he believed they had raised more than $140,000 for Sharpton in the previous quarter — but Hawkins fretted because Sharpton had reported only about $50,000 on his federal election filing.

"He's a train wreck — a plane crash waiting to happen," Hawkins told White about Sharpton, according to the paper.

FEC records show Sharpton reported raising about $54,000 during the period, the second quarter of 2003.

Sharpton has denied any wrongdoing.

In the hotel room, the FBI had videotape secretly rolling as White forked over a wad of campaign checks to Sharpton. Sharpton demanded $25,000 more, and White promised he'd try to raise it.

Wiretaps show that White and Hawkins supported Sharpton because they believed the candidate could grease the skids in future business deals — primarily a $40 million deal related to New York City's pension fund.

The feds learned Hawkins, a Detroit fast-food king, sought to create a fried-chicken empire financed with millions of dollars invested from the Big Apple pension fund.

White and Hawkins wooed Sharpton with the campaign checks to set up a meeting with Comptroller William Thompson, who controls the pension funds — though nothing ever came of it. Thompson is not accused of any wrongdoing.

Fearing that Sharpton and the donors were hatching a plan to defraud the pension fund, the FBI got clearance for the videotape from a judge.

That angle proved to be unfounded — but the FBI surveillance uncovered the possible campaign fund-raising fraud. The precise focus of the FBI probe could not be learned.

Sharpton told the Philadelphia paper the allegations were a "politically motivated smokescreen" to hide the fact the Justice Department is out to get him.

Neither he nor his lawyer returned phone calls from The Post yesterday.

Sharpton told the paper that mistakes could have been made by his campaign, but said they were not deliberate.

"In any campaign, you have irregularities," he said. "I don't say that it's not possible there are people in my campaign who have done something."

Sharpton ripped the federal probe and the secret videotaping of the hotel meeting, saying, "Can you imagine what would happen if it was a white presidential candidate?"

With the help of White and Hawkins, Sharpton collected enough money across the country to qualify for federal campaign matching funds in 2003.

But because Sharpton pumped more than $50,000 of his own money into the campaign — disqualifying him from getting the taxpayer-backed funding — the FEC said he must give back $100,000. Sharpton is appealing the FEC decision.

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Redrum

04-12-2005, 11:36 AM

Let's see how fast his "buddy" JJ will come to his rescue!!!:lool:

Popeye

04-12-2005, 11:38 AM

Sharpton told the paper that mistakes could have been made by his campaign, but said they were not deliberate.
Kinda like Sandy Burgler?

NavyChief

04-12-2005, 01:39 PM

Sharpton told the Philadelphia paper the allegations were a "politically motivated smokescreen" to hide the fact the Justice Department is out to get him.

...

Sharpton ripped the federal probe and the secret videotaping of the hotel meeting, saying, "Can you imagine what would happen if it was a white presidential candidate?"So it took Rev. Al - what? - 0.27 seconds to play the race card? He's slippin'.

7.62mmFMJ

04-12-2005, 01:50 PM

Follow the template:

1. deny everything even if a tape is available showing the act
2. play the race card early and often

Antlurz

04-12-2005, 02:50 PM

....and accuse the cookie jar of raping a poor little black girl. Sharpton is as slimey as a yellow bellied bullhead.

....and just as apt to sting you with his dorsal or pectoral fins.

Hook

04-12-2005, 04:00 PM

Al Sharpton attacked President Bush, saying he ruined the economy. For instance, Sharpton hasn't been able to find a job in over 46 years.

Hook

Antlurz

04-12-2005, 05:27 PM

And here it says he pumped more than $50,000 of his own money into the campaign, yet in court, when ordered to pay restitution in that Shuwana Brawley case, according to his testiphoney, even the suit on his back was borrowed.

uh huh.

Ron

Hook

04-12-2005, 05:51 PM

Rev. Al, along with his buddy Rev. Jessie, is full of more sh*t than the bottom of a birdcage.

Of course that's only my opinion. :D

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wildames

04-13-2005, 05:34 AM

re:"Neither he nor his lawyer returned phone calls from The Post yesterday."

Al?....at a loss for words?.....impossible!

I'm not sure who it will be, but he'll end up talking someone to tears until they tell him to go away.

Popeye

04-13-2005, 10:06 AM

The man is a living, breathing clown. A dangerous clown, but a clown none the less.

Nes

04-13-2005, 10:35 AM

....and accuse the cookie jar of raping a poor little black girl. Sharpton is as slimey as a yellow bellied bullhead.

....and just as apt to sting you with his dorsal or pectoral fins.

THAT WAS AN INSULT TO A yellow bellied bullhead.

:irk: :irk: :lool: :lool: :lool: :lool: :lool:

Antlurz

04-13-2005, 11:28 AM

You're right.
I apologize.

Ron

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